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Westminster Alumni and Students Partner for Success

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Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2017

More than 200 alumni and friends and 300 students gathered on Saturday, Sept. 16, for Westminster College’s seventh Professional Networking Symposium (PNS), an annual event that encourages relationships between Westminster students and working professionals.

Founded by Dr. Daniel Fischmar, retired Westminster professor of economics emeritus, and alumni Dr. Christie Grewe Nelson '06 and Ben Nelson ’06, the symposium offers panels and presentations on topics such as career development, entrepreneurship, consulting and internships.

Grewe Nelson is currently a postdoctoral research fellow with CCICADA/Rutgers University, and Nelson is vice president of Moody's Corporation in New York City.

"The Professional Networking Symposium gives alumni and professionals a chance to visit campus and network with old and new friends, while helping students navigate towards finding a job,” said Grewe Nelson. “Students and alumni of all class years now realize that if they relocate near or far, the Westminster community is far-reaching and always welcoming. It has been such a pleasure to watch the event evolve and grow over the past seven years. But no matter the attendance size, the friendly environment is always present."

Alumni from BNY Mellon, Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science, Crowe Horwath LLP, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Gilbert’s Risk Solutions, Synergy Comp Insurance Company, JFS Wealth Advisor, Matthews International Corporation, Moody’s Corporation, PNC Bank, Sparq Design, UPMC and many others attended.  More than 90 companies where represented throughout the day.

Recent Westminster graduate Paul Carswell ’16, manager of a Sherwin Williams store in Centerville, Virginia, received his current job through networking. He encourages undergraduates to keep in contact with the people they meet at events like PNS because those interactions often lead to jobs.

"A lot of people I hold close to me have gotten their jobs through our alumni because we have such a small tight-knit family community here at Westminster,” Carswell said. “With all of the love and knowledge we acquire here, there is always someone willing to help you."

For more information, contact Rick Sherlock at shelora@westminster.edu or 724-946-7191